Abstract
This paper uses the Buddhist teaching and ministry of the Chinese monk, Chin Kung as a launching pad to consider both the difficulty and practical pathways of walking the synodal way. It first connects the Catholic idea of synodality with the Buddhist concept of the Six Harmonies. It then identifies the first Harmony—sharing the same views—as the most difficult to achieve, according to the experience of Chin Kung. The difficulty is traced to the paramount challenge of overcoming the self-view. On the bright side, Chin Kung points to the four Buddhist methods of winning people over as the elementary steps of skillful means that can be universally practiced to foster harmonious relationships. Chin Kung's Buddhist perspective echoes many existing elements within the Catholic tradition, including the teaching of the Final Document on synodality by the bishops and the teaching of Pope Francis. This interreligious exploration of synodality concludes that the key to achieving the harmony of viewpoints is to let go of the self through the spirit of humility, asceticism, and conversion. The four methods of winning people over are creative pathways capable of facilitating synodality through the energy of compassionate action.
Recommended Citation
Stout, Huili Shen
(2025)
"A Buddhist-Catholic Perspective on Synodality,"
Asia Pacific Mission Studies: Vol. 7:
Iss.
1, Article 8.
Available at:
https://archium.ateneo.edu/apms/vol7/iss1/8
